The in situ hydrothermal reactions of ZnCl(2) with benzonitrile, 2-amino-5-cyanopyridine, and trans-2,3-dihydro-2-(4' '-cyanophenyl)-benzo[e]indole in the presence of NaN(3) and water afford two 3D-diamond-like networks, (CN(4)-C(6)H(5))(2)Zn (1) and (NH(2)-C(5)H(3)N-CN(4))(2)Zn (2), and one 2D square grid network, [(CN(4)-C(6)H(4)-C(12)H(7)N-C(5)H(4)N)(2)Zn].1.5H(2)O (3), in which these ligands gradually involve a noncenter-A-D (acceptor-donor) system, a one-center-A-D system, and a two-center-A-D system, respectively. All three compounds crystallize in noncentrosymmetric space groups (I2d for 1 and 2 and Fdd2 for 3) and display strong second harmonic generation (SHG) responses. Among the three new complexes, 3 shows the largest SHG effect, which is about 50 and 500 times that of urea and KDP (KH(2)PO(4)), respectively. The two-center-A-D system (multicenter push-pull electronic effect) in 3 may be responsible for it having the largest SHG effect. Interestingly, the three compounds exhibit strong fluorescent emissions at different wavelengths, 1 and 2 with blue fluorescent emissions at 390 and 415 nm and 3 with yellow-green fluorescent emissions at 495 and 532 nm.

Reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation (SCSC) was for the first time observed between 4f-based molecular magnets.

This work presents a prototype of chiral porous metal-organic framework with the porous wall decorated by different functional groups. The special structure in conjunction with the gas adsorption results reveals some relationship between CO2 adsorption and functional points. Moreover, outstanding tunable photoluminescence and direct white-light emission is observed.

The reactions of (S)-3-cyanophenylalanine with NaN(3) in the presence of H(2)O and Lewis acids (ZnCl(2) and CdCl(2)) afford two unprecedented 3D homochiral networks, mono[(S)-5-(3-tetrazoyl)-phenylalaninato]zinc(II) (1) and mono[(S)-5-(3-tetrazoyl)-phenylalaninato]cadmium(II) monoaqua(II) (2), respectively. The two compounds are isostructural with noninterpenetrated SrAl(2) topology. The structure of these coordination polymers gives new insight into Sharpless' reaction of chiral 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole and homochiral supramolecular array constructions.